Ladies holidays provide wonderful reading spaces. This time I noticed a particular thing about Iyengar’s overly descriptive, photographically loaded “Light on Pranayama”. He advices to use the chin lock (picture), or jalandhara bhanda throughout the whole practice, that means, during inhalation, retention and exhalation. Lock the chin? As I attempt to let air in, or out? In his own words:
“Except when lying down, never keep the head erect; form a chin lock; so that the crown of the head does not go up, but remains undisturbed throughout the practice of Pranayama”
Thinking that perhaps I misunderstood, I went to see the specific description of one of the simplest Pranayama exercises, ujjayi, and on page 134 Ujjayi stage V (the first time he instructs is as “sitting down” rather than laying down which was the exception) he says:
“sit quietly…. Lower the head towards the trunk… this is chin lock…. Keep the arms down… do not tense the eye-balls… first exhale quietly…”
For nadi shodhana (alternate nostril pranayama) I am told to refer to the above before the start, which, well, obviously includes the lock.
Our instructions in Thailand (who have Tiwariji and Paul Dallaghan as master gurus on Pranayama matters) frawned on locking the chin on anything other than on retention. The reason for applying it at retention is because otherwise the air will tend to rush out after a deep inhalation, and it could cause disruptions to the ear.
The Pradipika does not mention a chin lock during inhalation or exhalation other than for the practice of Moorchha pranayama (swooning breath), and even here they point out that they include the lock but it is not mentioned in the Gherand Samhita. Neither does Path of Fire and Ligth by Swami Rama.
However, on Rama's co-authored "Science of Breath", there seems to be a hint of what the answer could be. On the chapter "Portal to Higher Awareness", he says that when pressure is applied to the external carotids arteries through the chin lock, the nerve impulses to the brain attenuate body consciousness and bring about a trance-like condition. this happens when the chin lock is applied both to inhalation and exhalation. BUT, he continues, it takes a long time -sometimes years- for the yogi to gain mastery of the jalandhara bandha.
Hmmm...
i learned 3 astanga pranayamas from dena kingsberg & lino miele. jalandhara bandha is applied only on puraka retention. it locks it in place. on rechaka, we always kept the head up. even on sama vritti & nadi shodhana. that's just what i learned.
ReplyDeleteWe're taught to apply it throughout during the breathing in padmasana at the end of practice. My interpretation is that you can apply it, but not 100% - enough the restrict the airway so that the breath comes in a very slow, narrow, controlled stream. Then if doing retentions, you really lock it down fully.
ReplyDeleteI'm just doing the one technique from Venki, which doesn't involve any locks but the chin is pulled in very slightly. There is one position that is held the duration of the 35/40m.
ReplyDeleteAnd I've just reminded msyelf that I did NOT practice my pranayama today. I was out & about all day... oh well.
ReplyDeleteI love your inquiry here! It's a great exploration. The answers are not always clear, and at the same time we can know things as well as grow to trust certain sources of information.
ReplyDeleteBe well.
@Bindy, I also learned that the chin lock is utilized in retention only, and I will keep on practicing this way.
ReplyDelete@Susananda, I appreciate your interpretation, it would make sense to have "two degrees", as in you just do it, and then in retention you "fully" lock it. Very interesting. An eye opener really to think of it in those terms.
@Boodiba I am curious about the position that is held for 35 minutes, i wonder what school of pranayama he follows, as in, I wonder who was his guru... I am just plain curious these days
@Brooks Hall thanks, and you are absolutely right, it is never clear it seems in yoga, so many teachers, so many methods, I suppose looking at the big teachers and then at their teachers helps, then again, I suppose only our own practice and the fruits of it will tell in time... it is exciting!
Claudia I will show you sometime when I'm back home!
ReplyDeleteCool :-) Baltazar, or raw food at my place, your choice
ReplyDelete